Leadership
Supported by a powerful, all-female board and led by an Executive Director with extensive experience, Gratitude House is one of the only sober-living homes with a live-in House Manager bringing over three decades of recovery. It is here that empowered women empower women.
Our leaders are but trusted servants.
Tradition Two of Alcoholics Anonymous
Our Team
Dr. Maggie Sullivan
Executive Director, ex-officio
Maggie Sullivan serves as the Executive Director of Gratitude House, bringing over 25 years of experience in educational leadership. She attended the University of Florida on an athletic scholarship, earned a Master of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, and holds a doctorate in leadership from Vanderbilt University. Educated by the Sisters of St. Joseph and an alumna of an all-girls school, Maggie has always been passionate about spiritual spaces where strong, confident women serve and uplift other women. In recovery since 1998, Maggie is committed to ensuring Gratitude House provides women with the safe, supportive environment she once needed—a place to build confidence, self-sufficiency, and a life rooted in gratitude and service.
Beth Drewett
House Manager, ex-officio
Beth Drewett is the visionary behind Gratitude House, and our beloved live-in House Manager. With over 30 years of experience in her own recovery, Beth also has extensive professional experience in recovery having served as a counselor in several treatment and recovery centers. She is a deeply intuitive meditation teacher, grounded in philosophical wisdom and radiating a profound sense of light and love. She operates with a serene presence, guiding others from a place of higher consciousness and spiritual depth. She combines compassion and accountability, guiding others with a nurturing spirit while holding them to the highest standards to help them thrive. Gratitude House was born out of her passion to provide a safe, supportive space where women can heal, grow, and rebuild their lives.
Board Of Directors
Amy Payne
Board Chair
Amy Payne’s journey in philanthropy began in 2014 when she joined the National Charity League (NCL) with her daughter, immersing them in service opportunities across various organizations, including Southside Early Childhood Center, Little Bit Foundation, and St. Louis Area Foodbank. After six years with NCL, Amy felt called to continue her service and, in 2021, accepted her sister Beth's invitation to serve as Board President for Gratitude House. Amy dedicates her work as a love letter to her daughter who lived in a sober-living home. A loving mother of three and an Al-Anon member, Amy brings compassion, integrity, and resilience to her role, balancing empathy with a strong commitment to staying true to herself and her values. Her leadership radiates a genuine warmth and strength, making her a beautiful asset to the Gratitude House community.
Sally Topping
Vice Chair
Sally Topping brings over 40 years of experience in advocacy and education to her role as Vice Chair of the Board at Gratitude House. Sally holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a Juris Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. She practiced law from 1984 to 2009, then transitioned to elementary education with the St. Louis Public Schools, where she worked until 2017. From 2017 to 2020, Sally served as president of Local 420 AFT, advocating for educators and students. She returned to private legal practice in 2021, before retiring in 2024. Sally’s dedication to empowering others through both legal advocacy and education aligns with Gratitude House’s mission of supporting women in recovery.
Chris Intagliata
Treasurer
Chris Intagliata brings her expertise in business management and a passion for recovery to the Gratitude House Board. Her career began as an assistant buyer for Clothe World and Linen Center before she moved into bookkeeping for her family’s business, Cobalt Creed, where her love for numbers and attention to detail allowed her to thrive. In recovery herself for 37 years, Chris was profoundly impacted by her own treatment and sober living experience, which introduced her to the strength of community support. She has dedicated herself to creating environments where women can focus solely on healing, free from the trauma of exposure to substance use. Active in the recovery community, Chris has served as a General Service Representative, ambassador for The Next Step, and fundraiser for Central Services. She also supports Recovery Capital and their annual sober picnic, embodying a lifelong dedication to supporting recovery and sobriety.
Lisa Kohler
Board Secretary
Lisa Kohler, a proud St. Louis native, returned to her hometown after gaining valuable professional experience in Chicago and New York City. With over 15 years of expertise in nonprofit development, Lisa has been instrumental in raising millions of dollars for both national and local organizations. A graduate of Visitation Academy, she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Loyola University Chicago and has since worked for organizations such as Teach For America, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and the Missouri Historical Society. In addition to her career in development, Lisa is an accomplished musician, performing as a solo vocalist and choir/band member throughout St. Louis. Her passion for philanthropy and dedication to recovery programs come together in her meaningful role as a board member at Gratitude House, where she is committed to creating lasting change in the lives of women on their journey to rebuilding and thriving.
Jo Ann Sturm
Board Member
Jo Ann Sturm is honored to serve on the board of Gratitude House, where she brings her passion for helping women in recovery. Jo Ann owns her own business and is actively involved in service work, serving on both the International and St. Louis service teams of Centering Prayer 12-Step Outreach, where she shares spiritual practices of prayer and meditation. She has also served as treasurer and social committee member for the Steps Alano Club and has been treasurer of the Fall Classic Committee for four years. Sobriety has been a transformative journey for Jo Ann, who has been living a sober life since January 2003. This transformation fuels her dedication to empowering women through the recovery process and helping them live their best lives. Jo Ann deeply believes that while sobriety is hard work, it can also be a lot of fun.
Aundrea Johnson
Board Member
Aundrea Johnson brings over 18 years of experience as a School Counselor, serving families in Ladue, Ferguson-Florissant, and St. Louis Public Schools. With nine years as a Behavioral Intake Therapist conducting substance abuse and mental health assessments. Aundrea earned a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri and a Master’s in School Counseling from Lindenwood University. Currently pursuing licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), she is also a doctoral student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, studying Social Justice in Education. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Aundrea serves on the boards of Rides-N-School Supplies and the St. Louis Suburban School Counselor Association. She enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with her family.
Jaymi Davis
Board Member
Jaymi Elaine Davis is a native of St. Louis, MO. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Oral Roberts University in 2014, followed by a Certificate in Public Health from Loyola University Chicago in 2015, and a Master’s in Professional Counseling in 2022.
She is an author, speaker, therapist, and owner of Refining Place Coaching, LLC. She is the founder of Rose of Sharon, a women’s ministry whose mission is to inspire women to own their femininity, rebuild their lives, and love themselves while doing it.
As a therapist, Jaymi takes pride in guiding clients through their healing journeys, with a special focus on youth and mental health education. Her desire both in her ministry and career is to impact the lives of those she meets through the power of Christ.
Peg Weathers
Board Member
Peg Weathers is an accomplished nonprofit leader with significant experience in civic engagement, higher education, and recovery advocacy. Currently, as the President of Grand Center, Inc., Peg is driving new growth and energy into St. Louis’s cultural heart. With over two decades of experience across political, corporate, and community sectors, Peg has a reputation for turning vision into action, from revitalizing business associations to directing political campaigns. Previously, she served on the board of the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NCADA), underscoring her dedication to addiction recovery and mental health advocacy. Peg’s passion for helping others find healing aligns closely with Gratitude House’s mission.
Andrea Sanders
Board Member
When not immersed in the world of real estate, Andrea Sanders cherishes quality time with her family and community service. A graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in Marketing and Communications, Andrea also holds an MBA from Fontbonne University. Before transitioning to real estate, she built a successful career as a marketer for leading global brands like McDonald’s, Blockbuster Entertainment, Ralston Purina, Coca-Cola, American Express, and LLumar Performance Film. In addition to her role at Gratitude House, Andrea serves as Board President of her children’s pre-school, Lucky Lane. Her dedication to Gratitude House stems from witnessing firsthand the transformative impact sober living can have on women’s lives.
Nyah Brummer
Board Member
Nyah Brummer is the Admissions and Communications Specialist at Rosati-Kain Academy in St. Louis. A University of Notre Dame alum with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, she returned to her hometown to support young people from diverse backgrounds. Nyah’s experience includes running summer enrichment programs, mentoring high schoolers of color through the college application process, and training peers at Notre Dame on racial equity and microaggressions. With a strong commitment to social justice, relationship-building, and fostering empathy, Nyah is a young and brilliant leader with a big heart who brings her passion for serving the dear neighbor to Gratitude House, where she joins efforts to create transformative change.
Mary Lou Fitzsimmons
Advisory Member
Mary Lou Fitzsimmons serves as a board member of Gratitude House, bringing over 50 years of nursing and community service experience. She attended nursing school in Boston and earned a fellowship to complete her BSN at St. Louis University, where she later achieved her MSN. Mary Lou's career spans childcare at Cardinal Glennon Hospital and extensive work in psychiatric, adolescent, and adult medicine at SSM and Washington University. Her passion for community health led her to focus on public health nursing, serving with the Visiting Nurse Association and various clinics and schools in St. Louis. In addition to over 25 years of service with St. Vincent de Paul, she is active with St. Patrick Center and St. Martha’s Hall. A former Richmond Heights city council member, she also founded its Beautification Committee. Mary Lou is a mother of four, a grandmother of nine, and is deeply committed to fostering holistic growth—mental, physical, and spiritual—at Gratitude House.
Alexandra Schnarre
Board Member
Alex Schnarre, a St. Louis native, is passionate about supporting women in her community. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Northwestern University, where she was recognized with the Wildcat Impact Award for Integrity, Alex pursued her Juris Doctor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, graduating magna cum laude and serving as Managing Editor of the Indiana Law Journal. She demonstrated her commitment to service as the leader of NU Gives Back, Northwestern’s largest day of service, and authored a publication on foster care. Now a commercial litigation associate at Husch Blackwell, Alex is committed to empowering women through her legal career and community involvement. In her free time, Alex enjoys working out, trying new restaurants, thrifting, and watching college football. Addiction is close to Alex’s heart, and she is excited to be part of the growth of Gratitude House.